Former President Barack Obama is well aware social media helped him get elected to the highest office in the land, but he has a warning against it.

More than 10 months after leaving the Oval Office, the ex-commander in chief began the inaugural Obama Foundation Summit on Tuesday in Chicago. It brought together entrepreneurs, artists, up-and-coming leaders and officials for a brainstorming session on the issues facing the nation.

Advertisement

Obama wasn't interested in staring at any of their cellphones.

"For Michelle and myself, this seems trivial but it's not -- no selfies," Obama said. "Now I say this because, one of the weird things about being president is I found people were no longer looking me in the eye and shaking my hand, because they approached me either like this or like this (mimics taking a selfie). And it seems trivial, but it's not."

Obama then elaborated that while social media is an "amazing tool," it can block real conversations and holds people back from listening to each other.

"I would not have been elected president had it not been for young people organizing in states all across the nation," Obama said. "But if it is blocking you from having a conversation or seeing somebody and recognizing them and listening to them because you are so busy trying to get a picture, then you are in some ways contributing to what separates us, rather than trying to break through."

Hundreds of leaders from 60 countries are in Chicago for the event, which features sessions and a Wednesday evening concert with Chance the Rapper and Gloria Estefan.

The foundation says the event is one of many it plans in the coming years. The foundation is raising money for the Obama Presidential Center, which is planned in Chicago.